Introduction to Plastic Cards

Plastic cards are an essential tool to identify people, authorise access, transact with merchants and other services, and provide convenience benefits to the holders. They have numerous possible usages, ranging from access control to membership cards, payment cards and credit cards.

Features and Benefits of Plastic Cards

Plastic cards are one of the most convenient and widely used ID solutions in the world. Their features and benefits include:

• Versatility: Plastic cards are capable of securely storing and processing a wide range of information, which can be used for multiple applications such as access control, payment systems, loyalty cards and promotional offers.
• Durable: Plastic cards are much more durable than paper cards due to their waterproof and tear-resistant properties.
• Secure: Plastic cards are also more secure than other identification solutions due to their advanced encryption and authentication capabilities.

Pros Cons of Plastic Cards

Plastic cards are well established and are trusted as standard security solutions worldwide. However, here are some of the pros and cons of using plastic cards:

Pros

• Cost effective: Plastic cards typically require minimal setup costs.
• Secure: Plastic cards provide high-level data security due to their encryption capabilities.
• Ideal for mass production: Plastic cards require minimal customization, meaning they can be produced quickly and in bulk.

Cons

• Fragility: Plastic cards must be handled with care to prolong their life span.
• Prone to fraudulent activities: As plastic cards are not particularly difficult to fake, they can be vulnerable to fraud.
• Limited storage capabilities: Depending on the technology, plastic cards typically have a limited amount of storage capacity.

Case Studies and Best Practices

Plastic cards are extremely versatile and are seen in a wide range of applications, such as access control, identification, membership, payment and credit cards. The following are two case studies of plastic cards, and best practices for their use:

Case Study 1: Access Control

The ABC Corporation is using plastic cards to provide secure access to their premises. Each card contains personal information about the card holder, such as their name, photograph and user authorisation level. The cards are programmed with harmonised encryption to authenticate the holder and provide access to the building. The card also serves as a replacement for traditional keys, which can be lost or misplaced.

Case Study 2: Payment Card

The XYZ Corporation is using plastic cards to provide a secure and convenient payment system for their customers. The card contains a chip that stores the customer's payment information, such as their name, address and bank account details. Customers can swipe their cards at the checkout to pay for their purchases. The cards also contain a secure PIN number to authenticate the user and provide an extra layer of security.

Best Practices

• Ensure the cards are properly-designed and constructed.
• Never store sensitive information on the cards.
• Ensure the plastic cards are properly-programmed and tested.
• Ensure the data stored on the cards is secure.
• Ensure the plastic cards are properly-stored and handle with care.

FAQs and Mistakes People Make

FAQs

• Are plastic cards difficult to produce?

  No, plastic cards are relatively straightforward and inexpensive to produce.

• Are plastic cards secure?

  Yes, plastic cards provide a high-level of data security due to their advanced encryption and authentication capabilities.

• Can plastic cards be used for multiple applications?

  Yes, plastic cards can be used for a wide range of applications such as access control, payment systems, loyalty cards and promotional offers.

Mistakes People Make

• Not careful handling: Plastic cards must be handled with care to avoid damaging them.
• Unsecured personal data: Plastic cards can store sensitive information, so it is important to ensure the data is secure.
• Forgetting to update: It is important to regularly update the cards with new information to keep them current.

Final Notes

The versatility of plastic cards makes them an excellent solution for a variety of applications, from access control to payment systems. They provide a secure and convenient way to identify people, authorise access and enable transactions. It is important to ensure the cards are properly designed, programmed and stored, and that the data stored on them is secure.